After being held captive by the Palestinian group Hamas for five years, Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit returned to his home in Mitzpe Hila, northern Israel. As his family and friends were celebrating his freedom, 477 of an eventual 1,027 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons were released to mass celebrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, part of the deal with Hamas. Schalit, a tank crewman who is now 25, was captured in June of 2006 near the Gaza border. -- Lloyd Young (19 photos total)

Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz embraced released Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Defense Minister Ehud Barak also greeted him at Tel Nof Airbase on Oct. 18. Looking thin, weary, and dazed, Schalit returned home after more than five years of captivity in the Gaza Strip in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners whose joyful families greeted them with massive celebrations. (Israeli Government Press Office/Associated Press)

People reacted as they saw the first images of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in Mitzpe Hila, northern Israel, Oct. 18. In the video, Schalit appeared thin and pale but otherwise healthy. (Oded Balilty/Associated Press) #

Noam Schalit, father of released soldier Gilad Schalit, delivered a statement to the media in Mitzpe Hila, northern Israel, Oct. 18. He said, in part, "Today, we feel that we have experienced the birth of a new son. I wish to thank the public, all of you, those gathered here today to support us and greet Gilad with warmth and support, solidarity." (Ariel Schalit/Associated Press) #

Released Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit was escorted by members of Hamas on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing. Looking dazed, thin, and pale, Gilad Schalit emerged from a pickup truck on Oct. 18 under the escort of his Hamas captors and the Egyptian mediators who helped arrange the Israeli tank crewman's release after more than five years in captivity. (Khalid Farid/Associated Press) #

A Hamas security officer watched a crowd of Palestinians celebrating the release of prisoners at the main square in Gaza City, Oct. 18. Hamas agreed to release Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, many of them serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. The arrival of the prisoners set off celebrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where large crowds and dignitaries greeted them. (Majed Hamdan/Associated Press) #

The daughter of released Palestinian prisoner Walid Ghattas, who had been in prison for 20 years, cried as she waited for her meeting with Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal in Cairo on Oct. 18. Hundreds of Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of Gilad Schalit, the Israeli soldier held for five years by the enclave's Islamist rulers, Hamas. (Amr Nabil/Associated Press) #